New Jurisdictional Limit ($12,000) for District Magistrate Civil Matters

Governor Rendell signed HB 2172 on November 23, 2010. This bill raises the jurisdictional limits of magisterial district courts from $8,000.00 to $12,000.00 in civil cases, exclusive of interest and costs. As in the past, a Plaintiff may waive that much of his/her claim to bring the case into the district magistrate court, but will not be limited to that amount on appeal should a defendant appeal.

It is believed that this new jurisdictional limit goes into effect in 60 days, i.e. around January 22, 2011.

I send thanks to District Magistrate Justice James A. Gibbons, Esquire of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania for this tip.

An Increase of Jurisdictional Limit in Pennsylvania Magisterial District Courts Coming?

On October 5, 2010, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 2172 which, in part, serves to increase the jurisdictional amount of the magisterial district courts from $8,000 to $12,000.00.

It appears that the Bill was previously approved by the Pennsylvania Senate. I believe it now goes on to the Governor for the final step of his consideration of the matter.

Here's a link to the Bill, with amendments noted: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2172&pn=4432


This Tort Talk post takes me back to being a kid in my polyester Eagles pajamas, watching the Saturday morning cartoons, and seeing the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon song come on "How a Bill Becomes a Law" ("Oh I hope and pray that I will, but today I am still just a bill...."). Here's a link to that cartoon to take you back into time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ



I thank Attorney and Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania Magisterial District Justice James Gibbons for bringing this to my attention.